Why does Gualtieri claim that becoming white was a choice for Syrian migrants to America?
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Gualtieri argues that for Syrian migrants to America, becoming "white" was a strategic and deliberate effort shaped by the racial, legal, and social structures of the time. At the time, American law restricted citizenship to "free white persons" or individuals of African descent, placing Syrians in a precarious position as immigrants of Middle Eastern origin. The critical George Dow case highlighted the community's legal battle for recognition. Dow, a Syrian immigrant, had his citizenship application denied twice because he was not considered white. In a final appeal in 1915, the court ruled in favor of Dow, establishing a legal precedent that classified Syrians as white and therefore eligible for naturalization. To make their case, Syrians emphasized their Caucasian ancestry, their Christian religious identity, and their cultural ties to ancient civilizations like the Phoenicians, presenting themselves as part of the European and Judeo-Christian lineage. This strategic alignment with whiteness allowed them to gain access to legal rights, and economic opportunities, distancing themselves from non-white groups and the systemic discrimination those groups faced.
However, the pursuit of whiteness came with significant contradictions and moral tensions. Although Syrians achieved legal recognition as white, they often continued to face societal discrimination due to their Middle Eastern appearance and cultural practices. This inconsistency created a gap between their legal status and their lived experiences of radicalization, leaving many to lead an ambiguous position in American society. Additionally, the alignment with whiteness often required complicity in the racial hierarchy of the United States, reinforcing anti-Blackness and exclusionary practices that disadvantaged marginalized groups. Younger generations of Syrians, born in America, often questioned the value of whiteness, recognizing its exclusivity and the sacrifices it demanded in terms of cultural heritage and solidarity with other racialized communities. Gualtieri’s analysis highlights that becoming white was not an automatic process but a negotiation, driven by both survival and aspiration, that demonstrated the enduring influence of race on immigrant experiences in America. This struggle shows how whiteness, as both a legal and social construct, shaped notions of identity, privilege, and belonging for Syrian immigrants and their descendants.